The singer, 42, faced Stephen Belafonte, who she says tortured her with years of physical and mental abuse, in court in Los Angeles on Friday.

The pair both have outstanding tax debts after making “improvident” lifestyle choices, Los Angeles Superior Court was told.

Grace Jamra, representing Belafonte, said: “She wiped out all her Spice Girls’ money, approximately 50 million if not more.”

New reports now claim Mel has “just £961” in one of her company’s bank accounts due to her “extravagant lifestyle”.

A source told the Sunday People: “Mel is an international superstar, still working as a judge on America’s Got Talent, but she only has a small amount of money in the bank, according to Companies House. People may be very surprised.”

The newspaper claims Moneyspider Productions, which she set up in 1997, has just £961 left in its account.

And the pop icon, who filed for divorce on March 20, says Stephen subjected her to “multiple physical beatings” and threatened to release a sex tape.

In a the filing earlier this year she wrote: “I have tried to leave the Respondent many times. Every time I tried, the Respondent threatened me with violence and threatened to destroy my life in every way.”

Stephen Belafonte, who denies all accusations and says he’s been made to look like a “bad guy”, refutes the claims that Mel is hard-up after splashing her cash.